Johannesburg – The governing Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) in Zimbabwe should tell "grandfather" President Robert Mugabe to resign as he was no longer capable of discharging his responsibilities, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said on Monday.
"The Zimbabwean situation is bad... President Mugabe cannot even handle a spade when he tried to plant a tree just recently, that is how old he is. He is no longer capable of discharging his duties, and then they nominate him for presidency again in 2018," Malema told reporters in Johannesburg.
"We do not hate Mugabe, they can respond and insult us however they want... but those comrades in Zanu-PF are a group of cowards for not being able to tell to an old man like Mugabe to go. [Former Cuban president] Fidel Castro let go [of leadership] when he was no longer able to lead. Grandpa, it is enough now...allow other people to take the revolution forward in Zimbabwe."
Malema said African revolutionaries such as the EFF were following in 92-year-old Mugabe's footsteps as they were proud of how he dealt with the controversial land redistribution in Zimbabwe.
"Those leading [the] struggle tend to overstay and destroy a legitimate revolution... and that is not good for the struggle, the SA Development Community (SADC) and reclaiming the land back in Africa. There are capable young people in the Zanu-PF to continue the legacy."
He said Mugabe should be happy that he was not a South African president, as the EFF would not allow that. The Zanu-PF last year confirmed Mugabe as its candidate for the 2018 presidential elections. Mugabe came into power in 1980, first as prime minister and then as the country’s president. Turning to developments in the Gambia, Malema said he was happy that its former leader and dictator Yayhia Jammeh has left the country to allow incoming leader Adama Barrow to take over.
"Gambia comes from a difficult past, the process of managing the transfer of power is very important. But we found it irresponsible of the new president to threaten arresting the previous president instead of focusing on healing the country and unite everyone...that made Jammeh to resist and decide to stay...but we are happy that Jammeh has made way for new legitimate government."
He congratulated the Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas) for negotiating a peaceful transfer of power in Gambia, and bashed the African Union (AU) "for not taking action first".
"The Ecowas work is something that we wish to see happening across the continent. The AU should have been the first body to declare that stand taken by Ecowas... but then the AU, toothless and useless as it is, is led by people who have no idea where they want to take the continent to and were found wanting. The upcoming AU summit should focus on finding ways to deepen democratic practices, and how to avoid long term presidencies in the continent," Malema said.